Federal agents coming to Detroit to help with gun violence, not protests

The White House says federal agents are coming to Detroit in the next few weeks as part of a broader effort to help crime-ridden cities fight escalating violence.

But it's not about the ongoing Black Lives Matter protests, Chief James Craig stressed. It's about helping Detroit police fight violent crime.

"There are no Homeland Security agents coming here to man protests," Craig said to the Free Press Thursday. "They are not here to do anything with protesters. This is not Portland. This is not Seattle."

Craig sought to quell rumors that federal agents are coming to Detroit to take on anti-police brutality protests in the wake of George Floyd's death in Minneapolis. His comments also clarify remarks that the White House posted on its website late Wednesday about President Donald Trump's initiative to fight inner city violence.

More:President Trump threatens to send federal officers to Detroit, other cities over protests

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"Over the next 3 weeks, the Justice Department plans to further expand the initiative into Cleveland, Detroit and Milwaukee," the White House stated late Wednesday in summary notes detailing the initiative known as Operation Legend.

Trump unveiled the initiative on Wednesday as he announced plans to send federal agents into Chicago and Albuquerque, New Mexico, to help fight spikes in violence there.

“Frankly, we have no choice," Trump said Wednesday. "This rampage of violence shocks the conscience of our nation." 

Related: President Trump threatens to send federal officers to Detroit

Trump also talked about helping local police agencies in cities where police brutality protests have triggered looting and violence. He criticized what he described as a "far left movement" trying to defund and break up police departments, and announced $61 million in grants to help hire more police across the country.

"We will never defund the police," Trump said. "We will hire more great police."

Mayor Mike Duggan said that as of right now, Detroit doesn't need federal intervention with the protest demonstrations and that the city has it under control.

"We did not even accept the National Guard at the height of the protests" Duggan said on Wednesday, noting that there's "no plan to send Department of Homeland Security folks to the City of Detroit to deal with protesters."

Duggan, though, said that he is open to federal law enforcement coming to town to help on certain fronts.

"If you want to talk about extra gun prosecutors in the U.S. Attorney's Office or ATF taking illegal guns off the street, we would support that kind of help," Duggan said. "But we've made it very clear that Department of Homeland Security people coming to town to deal with the protesters is not going to be acceptable and my indications are we do not expect to see that here in Detroit." 

Detroit has endured a bloody summer so far, marred by shootings that have left dozens injured or dead. Over the last weekend alone, there were 33 shootings that injured 26 people and killed seven. As of Monday, violent crime in Detroit was up 7% from the year before, an increase Craig partly blames on the coronavirus pandmeic, the early release of criminals, and criminals who now feel especially emboldened to break the law.

For U.S. Attorney Matthew Schneider, whose office has long worked with local authorities in Detroit to help combat gang and gun violence, federal intervention is much needed and welcome here.

"Violent crime in southeast Michigan is through the roof. Homicides and shootings are up significantly, and it's so harmful to our communities and neighborhood," Schneider said, noting that federal agents being deployed to local communities is nothing new.

"We've been doing programs like this for a long time," Schneider said, adding Operation Legend is an extension of a previous, similar initiative called Operation Relentless Pursuit.

Unveiled in December, that federal initiative aimed to give police departments more manpower and money in cities with high violent crime rates. Detroit is one of seven cities involved in the effort. The others are Memphis, Tennessee;  Baltimore; Cleveland; Milwaukee; Kansas City and Albuquerque. All have violent crime rates higher than the national average.

The Justice Department pledged more than $70 million dollars in federal funding for police agencies across the country, noting the money could be used to hire officers and buy equipment.

Chief Craig welcomed the assistance, stating in December: 

“If we’re getting additional agents deployed, additional equipment, technology that can help us identify violent perpetrators quicker, that’s a win for us."

Contact Tresa Baldas: tbaldas@freepress.com